DV lottery photo file rules
From the State Department’s photo requirements, checked October 22, 2026. Check the official instructions for your entry year before you apply.
Before you enter
- Entries are only accepted on dvprogram.state.govduring the yearly entry period. Entering is free; be wary of sites that charge to enter for you.
- This page fixes the file (size, pixels, format) and removes hidden data such as location. It can’t check your face, background or lighting.
- If your photo isn’t square, the middle is kept. Take it with your head centered, or crop it square yourself first.
Applying for a regular US visa instead? Use the US visa photo tool.
Frequently asked questions
What size is the DV lottery photo?
Exactly 600 × 600 pixels, square, as a JPEG file of 240 kB or less. This page produces that file.
Can my photo be bigger than 600 × 600 for the DV lottery?
Use exactly 600 × 600. That’s the size the State Department lists for Diversity Visa entries, and this page sets it for you.
Will this make my photo meet every DV photo rule?
No. It fixes the file only. The photo must still follow the photo rules: recent, a plain white or off-white background, your head centered, a neutral expression and no glasses. A wrong photo can disqualify an entry.
What if my photo is smaller than 600 × 600?
It’s too small to use, and enlarging it would only make it blurry, so this page won’t. Take a new photo at full resolution.
Is this the official DV lottery website?
No. BananaFast is a free photo tool. Entries are only made on the State Department’s own site, dvprogram.state.gov, during the yearly entry period, and entering is free.
